Tetra-ethyl-ammonium bicarbonate trihydrate.

Area of Science:

• Crystal chemistry
• Supramolecular chemistry

Background:

• Understanding the self-assembly of ionic compounds with water is crucial for materials science.
• The tetra-ethyl-ammonium cation is a common bulky organic cation used in crystal engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the crystal structure and hydrogen bonding network of tetra-ethyl-ammonium bicarbonate trihydrate.
• To investigate the supramolecular architecture formed by the interaction of ions and water molecules.

Main Methods:

• Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was employed to determine the molecular and crystal structure.
• Analysis of hydrogen bonding interactions and intermolecular distances was performed.

Main Results:

• The crystal structure consists of hydrogen-bonded layers formed by bicarbonate anions and water molecules.
• Tetra-ethyl-ammonium cations are located between these layers, resulting in a sandwich-like structure.
• The inter-layer distance was determined to be 7.28 Å.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals a well-defined layered structure stabilized by extensive hydrogen bonding.
• The arrangement highlights the role of water in mediating interactions between organic cations and inorganic anions.
• This structural motif could be relevant for designing porous materials or host-guest systems.